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近来 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
近来
jìnlái
recently
HSK 6, t, 14 strokes, rank #6442, Hard
近来
jìnlái
lately
HSK 6, t, 14 strokes, rank #6442, Hard
jìnlái(jin4lai2)jin lai T4
1recently
2lately
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March 24, 2026
近来(近來)jìnlái(jin4lai2)
近来 (jìn lái) means 'recently' or 'lately.' It is used to refer to events or situations that have occurred in the recent past. This term can often be heard in conversations about current happenings or changes in someone's life.
Strokes14Frequency#6442DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In modern Chinese society, discussing recent events is common, especially given the rapid pace of change in urban life. The term is often used in news reports or during casual conversations about personal updates.
Memory tip
Think of 近 (jìn) as 'close' and 来 (lái) as 'come.' Imagine someone saying, 'Recently, I came close to a big change.' The character 近 has the radical for 'near' which relates to its meaning of 'recently.'
Meanings of 近来
jìnlái(jin4lai2)
1recently
2lately
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 近来
近来Simplified
近來Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#6442Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 近来
Podcast: 近来
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AI study notes for 近来
Quick Contrast
最近 (zuì jìn) - use 近来 for a slightly more formal tone or written context, while 最近 is more commonly used in casual speech.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 近来 with 近乎 (jìn hū), which means 'almost' or 'nearly.' 近来 is more informal and commonly used in spoken Chinese, while you may find more formal alternatives in writing. Common collocations include 近来的新闻 (jìn lái de xīn wén) 'recent news.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 近来 connects with other time-related expressions like 最近 (zuì jìn) 'recently' or 目前 (mù qián) 'currently.' Focus on using it in sentences that describe recent actions or changes in your life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 近来 with 近乎 (jìn hū), which has a different meaning. For example, saying 近来他近乎到了 (jìn lái tā jìn hū dào le) is incorrect; it should be 近来他来了 (jìn lái tā lái le) to mean 'He has come recently.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 近来
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Knowing 近来 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
近来 (jìn lái) means 'recently' or 'lately.' It is used to refer to events or situations that have occurred in the recent past. This term can often be heard in conversations about current happenings or changes in someone's life.
When to use 近来
Be careful not to confuse 近来 with 近乎 (jìn hū), which means 'almost' or 'nearly.' 近来 is more informal and commonly used in spoken Chinese, while you may find more formal alternatives in writing. Common collocations include 近来的新闻 (jìn lái de xīn wén) 'recent news.'
近来 or something close to it
最近 (zuì jìn) - use 近来 for a slightly more formal tone or written context, while 最近 is more commonly used in casual speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 近来 with 近乎 (jìn hū), which has a different meaning. For example, saying 近来他近乎到了 (jìn lái tā jìn hū dào le) is incorrect; it should be 近来他来了 (jìn lái tā lái le) to mean 'He has come recently.'
Write 近来
近
来
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Grammar patterns of 近来
近来 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我____双手一直疼痛麻木。
I have recently been suffering from pain and numbness in my hands.
Example sentences for 近来 (10)
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1
我近来双手一直疼痛麻木。
wǒ jìnlái shuāngshǒu yìzhí téngtòng mámù。
I have recently been suffering from pain and numbness in my hands.
2
耗资75万美元、有雪儿等艺人出镜的新的名人电视促销节目近来播出了。
hào zī75 wàn měiyuán、 yǒu xuě ér děng yìrén chū jìng de xīn de míngrén diànshì cùxiāo jiémù jìnlái bōchū le。
New $750,000 infomercials, featuring artists like Cher, have recently hit the screens.
